The first part of this volume contains an interesting account from the leading daily papers of Toronto of the ceremony of unveiling the great statue to a distinguished native of Ontario and a truly representative man—representative of her enterprize, energy and progress. As such, many of the leading men of the Province assembled on the Queen's Birthday to do honour to his memory. It also contains the addresses in full of those gentlemen who were appointed by their respective institutions, etc., to that duty, and who kindly consented to take part in the ceremonies and proceedings of the day.
The second part of the volume contains a statement of the origin, with illustrations, of the underlying principles of our system of education—primary, secondary and university.
There has also been added at the end some historical and personal sketches—some of them of a humorous cast—but all illustrative of the early days of education in this Province, and its vicissitudes of light and shade. They admirably serve to bring out in strong relief the present state of efficiency of our system of public instruction, as well as the substantial progress which has been made by it in its various departments since the early educational pioneers of Upper Canada first attempted to give it form and substance, over fifty years ago.
The photograph from which the frontispiece is printed was by Mr. J. Bruce, of 118 King street west, Toronto.
J. G. H.
Toronto, 24th May, 1889.
Personal Note.
A few days after the ceremony of unveiling the Statue, I received the following very kind note from Rev. Dr. Ryerson's only son:—
27 Cecil St., Toronto,
May 28th, 1889.
My Dear Dr. Hodgins,—The 24th of May was indeed a red-letter day to me and to my family; and one I shall never forget.